The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-27
A g THIRTEEN . NATION.
HISTORY PROVES THE NUMBER 2
LUCKY ONE FOR AMERICA.
che Original Thirteen statcs-Thirteenth
Observation-Disclosures Presidential
Term -Perry's yictory-settlement OF
virginia-Thrce Times Thirteen.


It seems well, in this blessed year Of
The celebration of the hundredth anniver-
sary of the completion and PRONUNCIATION
of the United States constitution, which,
as the late Judge Black, of Pennsylvania,
wrote q few years ego, has proved strong
enough to survive and meet the eXigen-
cies Of several foreign wars and one civil
war, and moro remarkable still, has with
stood the demoralizing effects upon the
people of what he called the s'canker Of a
calm world and u long peace" /" to call ut
versally considered unlucky number thir-
proved n most lucky one for these United
States.
There were originally thirteen states in
our Union, and the constitution was first
formally declared ratified by the conven-
tions of nine of them, and, according to its
own provisions, was then established be-
tween the states so ratifying the same' on
Sept. 13, 1883, when the date was also
fixed for the new form of government to
abegin-on the first Wednesday in the fol-
lowing March. Previously the noted
instrument known as 1.-THE ordinance of
1872 had been passed by congress on the
18th of July of that year.
The Thirteenth amendment to the COIL
stitution is that prohibiting "slarery or
involuntary servitude, except MS punish
ment for crime, within the United States,
and marked most important era in our
progress, and fortunate one as an ad-
vance in Christian civilization. The tllir-
.teenth presidential term, that of Martin
Van Buren, and the term of the thirteenth
President, NNllard Fillmore, were both
eras of great national prosperity. It was
on the 18th of August, 1888, that banks
in the United States resumed specie pay
lnents, which was during the thirteenth
presidential term.
go MORE TERRITORY.
During the term of the thirteenth presi-
-Fillmore-California was admitted
as state, bringing its great mineral
wealth into our Union; and on Dec l3,
1850, the territory Of New Mexico IAN
other part of the wealth producing lands
which came to lis in consequence of our
victory in the war with MeNico) was or
ganized. That warwh soenricled our
people was fought and the victory won
during the presidential term of James K.
Polk who was the thirteenth individual
who had been elected speaker of the M
tional house of representatives; and, Curl
ously enough, that thirteenth speaker is
the only one out of thirty who lave Eeld
that Office who has been elected president
of the United States up to the present
time, though two of the more noted indi-
viduals who have served as speaker Of that
house-Henry Clay and James G. Blaine
have each been nominated by his party
the former several times) as a candidate
for the presidency.
It was in the yeal. 1918 that Perry's vic
tory OH Lake Erie, our greatest naval VIC
tory against q foreign foe, occurred.
On the 18th of May 1907, occurred the
first settlement of jamestown, Va, the
state which has had more of its citizens
succeed to the presidency than any other,
and four of the five individuals from that
state who have. been at the head of our
nation had two terms in office. In view
of all these lucky thirtcens i'll the history
Of the United States might it not be called
thirteen nation?
Beginning with thirteen states it is
likely we may have just three times thir-
teen when we celebrate in 1882 the CEN
tennial anniversary of the beginning of
the present form Of government.
The only instance the writer has yet
found of thirteen heing an unlucky NUM-
Der in the history of our government or of
prominent officers thereof is that of Will
liam r. King, who was elected to fill the
thirteenth vice presidential term, but
could not even 60 to Washington to take
the oath of Office, but was by law per-
n,ittcd to take it elsewhere, and died in
April, his term having begun i'll March,
1857.
So the one exception proves the rule
Harper's BaZar.